Sports target device featuring elastic return mechanism

ABSTRACT

A target assembly that is configured to withstand high-velocity impact from a projectile. These configurations may comprise elastic members, or “bungee” cords, that generate elastic forces to return the target assembly to its orientation prior to impact. The bungee cords are less likely to undergo inelastic deformation; so these components afford the target assembly with longer life or longevity under heavy duty cycles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/704,633, filed onDec. 5, 2019, and entitled “SPORTS TARGET DEVICE FEATURING ELASTICRETURN MECHANISM,” which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Ser. No.62/775,583, filed on Dec. 5, 2018, and entitled “TARGET ASSEMBLY.” Thecontent of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Practice aids enjoy wide use in sports training. Many devices exist withindividual “targets” that attach to a “goal” so that the target covers asmall part or portion of the goal opening (or “goal mouth”). Athletesleverage the targets for throwing or shooting drills that hone skillsimportant for game play. The targets may focus the athletes' attentionto specific areas, like corners and sides of the goal mouth, becausethese areas may advantageously allow the athlete to score. For bestresults, practice regimens call for athletes to repeatedly attempt tohit the targets. This repetitive motion develops accuracy that maytranslate into better scoring chances in a game or contest. In sportslike hockey or lacrosse, though, the targets are much more susceptibleto damage because the projectile (the puck or ball) is made of very hardrubber and travels at very high speeds (often in excess of 90 mph).

SUMMARY

The subject matter of this disclosure relates to construction of targetsto improve longevity under these conditions. Of particular interest areembodiments that employ resilient or elastic materials, like “bungee,”with properties that are less susceptible to inelastic deformation.These embodiments may attach to a frame that mounts to the goal.Examples of frames are found in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,457,249or U.S. Ser. No. 16/165,308; however, the concepts here may apply toother devices as well. In use, the target may move (e.g., swing or turn)between orientations relative to the frame in response to impact fromthe projectile. The bungee forms part of a return mechanism that causesthe target to return to its first or initial orientation after impact.This mechanism provides repeatable, long term return of the target toits initial orientation under high duty cycles.

DRAWINGS

Reference is now made briefly to the accompanying drawings, in which.

FIG. 1 depicts an elevation view of the front of an exemplary embodimentof a target;

FIG. 2 depicts an elevation view of a tension member for use on thetarget of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an elevation view of the back of the target of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts an elevation view of the back of another example of thetarget 100 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the top of the target of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 depicts an elevation view of the target of FIG. 1 as part of apractice aid.

Where applicable, like reference characters designate identical orcorresponding components and units throughout the several views, whichare not to scale unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments disclosedherein may include elements that appear in one or more of the severalviews or in combinations of the several views. Moreover, methods areexemplary only and may be modified by, for example, reordering, adding,removing, and/or altering the individual stages

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Excellence in athletics is due in large part to practice. Athletes spendcountless hours at home or at practice facilities to hone their skills.Often, they perform repetitive drills to develop proper mechanics ormuscle memory that translates into success in game play. Many productsare available to assist in this endeavor. These products may includetargets to improve shot or pass accuracy. In use, athletes throw ordirect a projectile, like a ball or puck, over-and-over again at thetargets.

Targets and target assemblies according to this disclosure may find usein these products. These targets employ a design that permits movementbetween an initial orientation and an impacted orientation. The designincorporates a return mechanism that repeatedly returns the target toits initial position, though, even after multiple high-velocity impacts.This mechanism may leverage elastic or spring-like devices for thispurpose. These devices may react (e.g., deform) to movement of thetarget from its initial orientation. The deformation may generateelastic or spring forces that act in opposition to the direction ofmovement and return the target to its initial orientation Otherembodiments are within the scope of the subject matter herein.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view from the front an example of a target100. This example is shown in position on a rigid member 102, typicallya stiff, metal rod or tube made from steel or aluminum. This tube mayincorporate into a frame that can attach to a sports goal. The target100 may have an impact body 104 that bears impact from the projectile.The impact body 104 may have several parts (e.g., a first part 106 and asecond part 108). The parts 106, 108 may affix to one another withadhesive or fasteners, like screws or bolts. The first part 106 mayembody a flat or thin panel that is square or circular, although othershapes may suffice as well. Material(s) for the flat panel 106 shouldhave properties to withstand high-velocity impacts. Stiff foam or rubbermay work for this purpose, but other materials (alone or in combinationor composite) may work so long as they don't shatter or break at impact.The second part 108 may embody a rigid strip that attaches on a forwardor impact face of the foam panel 106, which is effective to reinforcethe foam panel 106. Plastics, like ABS (or Acrylonitrile ButadieneStyrene), may be useful for this purpose. The plastic strip 108 maycover only a portion of the surface area of the impact face of the foampanel 106. In one implementation, it may extend along all or part of anedge on the foam panel 106. This edge may reside proximate the framemember 102 with the target 100 resident on the frame. As shown, theplastic strip 108 may extend over the edge so part of it overlaps withthe frame member 102.

As also shown, lateral openings 110 may penetrate through one or bothparts 106, 108. The openings 110 may embody through-holes with centersthat closely align with one another on a lateral plane P. The holes 110may be spaced laterally apart from one another across the impact face ofthe parts 106, 108 as well. This example has two sets of holes (A, B),one each on either side of the centerline CL of the parts 106, 108. Butthe device may benefit from more or less of the holes 110 as desired. Inone implementation, the holes 110 may receive tension members 112 tocreate a tension pre-load that biases the impact body 104 in a first orinitial orientation (shown here in FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 depicts an elevation view of an example of the tension members112. This example includes an elastic cord 114. Preference may be givento materials for the elastic cords 112 that can elongate in response tomovement of the impact body 104 and then return to their originallength. These materials may include “bungee” or shock cord, or likeelastic materials (e.g., rubber). The bungee cord 114 may include anelongate body 116 that terminates at a pair of ends 118, each with acrimped ring 120 disposed thereon. When assembled into the tensionmember 112, the elongate body 116 may fold (in half) to insert into aretaining member 122, for example, a flat washer or ring made of metalor hard plastic. This arrangement forms a closed loop 124 because theflat washer 122 may have an inner diameter that retains the crimpedrings 118 on one side. Dimensions for the inner diameter can maintainthis location of the crimped rings 118 when pulling or loading theclosed loop 124 (as indicated by the arrow L).

FIG. 3 depicts an elevation view of the backside of the target 100 ofFIG. 1. The closed loop 124 may insert through the holes 110 from thebackside of the foam panel 106. The flat washer 122 acts as a stop sothat the closed loop 124 can stretch to extend or wrap over the framemember 102 from the front side to the backside of the foam panel 106. Inone implementation, the closed loop 124 can loop around the flat washer122. This arrangement creates the tension pre-load in each of thetension members 112. The pre-load may correspond with the length of thebungee cords 114 and the location of the holes 110 relative to the framemember 102, among other factors.

As noted above, the impact body 104 may be configured to changeorientation relative to the frame member 102 in response to impact fromthe projectile. These configurations may use a joint 126 to couple theimpact body 104 to the frame member 102. The joint 126 may embodydevices that provide sufficient degrees-of-freedom to allow for movementof the impact body 104 relative to the frame member 102. The device herehas one degree-of-freedom for the impact body 104 to effectively “swing”relative to the frame member 102. In one implementation, the device mayuse a hinge 128 with several components, like a pin joint 130 thatconnects corresponding leaves 132, one each that mounts to the framemember 102 and the backside of the foam panel 106 (with fasteners F₁ andF₂). The pin joint 130 stabilizes the impact body 104 so that it doesnot twist or turn in response to “off-center” contact by the projectile.

FIG. 4 depicts an elevation view of another example of the retainingmember 122. This example may embody a ball 134 (typically metal orplastic) with a central opening 136, for example, a counter-boredthrough-hole. Ends 118 of the elongate body 116 may be knotted andreside in the counter-bore. This arrangement also forms a closed loop124 as the knotted ends 118 prevent the elongate body 116 from pullingout of the ball 134 under load L (FIG. 2). When assembled, the closedloop 124 engages with the ball 134 on the backside of the foam panel106.

FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the top of the target 100 of FIG. 1. Thetarget 100 is shown in a second or impacted orientation that mightresult from impact by the projectile. In use, movement of the impactbody 104 to the impacted orientation may stretch the bungee cords 114,generating an internal elastic force (or elasticity) that returns theimpact body 104 to its initial orientation. The plastic strip 108 mayserve several roles as well. First, it may press against the closed loop124 (at C) to increase the elastic force. It may also prevent“over-rotation” of the impact body 104, contacting the frame member 102to ensure that the impact body 104 resides in its initial orientation(FIG. 1), which is essentially planar with the outwardly facing surfaceof the frame member 102. Further, the plastic strip 108 may protect thehinge 128 from impact by the projectile to avoid damage fromhigh-velocity shots.

The target 100 may benefit from a sensing mechanism 138 that canregister the change in orientation. The sensing mechanism 138 may embodydevices that do not require contact between sensor and emitter. Thesenon-contact devices may deploy various modalities, including optical,ultrasonic, or magnetics; however, other types of sensors may be usefulas well. In one implementation, the device may include a magnetic sensor140 (on the frame member 102) that detects proximity of a magnetic fieldfrom a magnet 142 (on the foam panel 106). Movement of the impact body104 from the initial orientation (FIG. 1) to the impacted orientationmay separate the magnet 142 from the sensor 140 enough to breakcontinuity in the magnetic sensor 140 (or cause some other response asdesired or designed).

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of one application of the target 100of FIG. 1. This application includes a large frame 144 with a number offrame members 102. The frame 144 may fit onto a lacrosse goal or hockeygoal, but dimensions may vary as desired. As discussed herein, the frame144 accommodates several of the targets 100, disposed on the framemembers 102. The tension members 112 maintain each of the targets 100 intheir initial orientation. Impact by the projectile on the individualtargets 100 will cause it to move to its impacted orientation. Thetension members 112 will return the impacted target 100 back to itsinitial orientation almost immediately thereafter.

In view of the foregoing, the embodiments herein are meant to withstandlong-term high-velocity impacts from projectiles, like hockey pucks,lacrosse balls, and baseballs. The resilient, elastic return mechanismis useful because it does not undergo inelastic deformation, which mayover-time adversely affect springs (e.g., wound coil springs). Thisimprovement results in a target (or target assembly) with betterlongevity. This feature can reduce costs and labor for manufacturersbecause these targets are less likely to require repair or replacementparts, if at all.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. An element or functionrecited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” shouldbe understood as not excluding plural said elements or functions, unlesssuch exclusion is explicitly recited. References to “one embodiment” ofthe claimed invention should not be interpreted as excluding theexistence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recitedfeatures. Furthermore, the claims are but some examples that define thepatentable scope of the invention. This scope may include andcontemplate other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Suchother examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if theyhave structural elements that do not differ from the literal language ofthe claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements withinsubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Examples appear below that include certain elements or clauses one ormore of which may be combined with other elements and clauses describeembodiments contemplated within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A target assembly, comprising: an impact body; atension unit that couples with the impact body to create a tensionpre-load; and a protective unit that increases tension in the tensionunit in response to movement of the impact body.
 2. The target assemblyof claim 1, further comprising: a tubular member, wherein the impactbody couples to the tubular member and can move independent of thetubular member.
 3. The target assembly of claim 1, further comprising: atubular member, wherein the impact body rotatably couples to the tubularmember.
 4. The target assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a tubularmember, wherein the tension unit wraps around the tubular member.
 5. Thetarget assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a tubular member; and ahinge that connects the impact body to the tube.
 6. The target assemblyof claim 1, further comprising: a tubular member; and a hinge thatconnects the impact body to the tubular member, wherein the protectiveunit is in position to prevent impact of a projectile on the hinge. 7.The target assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a tubular member;and a sensor for indicating movement of the impact body.
 8. The targetassembly of claim 1, further comprising: a tubular member; and a sensorcomprising a first part disposed on the tubular member and a second partdisposed on the impact body, wherein the first part and the second partindicate movement of the impact body.
 9. The target assembly of claim 1,wherein the tension unit comprises material that deforms elastically.10. The target assembly of claim 1, wherein the tension unit comprisesmaterial that returns substantially to its original length followingmovement of the impact body.
 11. A target, comprising: a tube; a flatpanel rotatably coupled to the tube; an elastic member attached to theflat panel and the tube to create a pre-load; and a protective unitdisposed to increase tension in the elastic member in response tomovement of the flat panel relative to the tube.
 12. The target of claim11, further comprising: a hinge coupling the flat panel to the tube. 13.The target of claim 11, further comprising: a hinge coupling the flatpanel to the tube, wherein the protective unit is in position to preventimpact of a projectile on the hinge.
 14. The target of claim 11, furthercomprising: a sensor indicating movement of the flat panel relative tothe tube.
 14. The target of claim 11, wherein the elastic membercomprises bungee cord.
 15. The target of claim 11, wherein the elasticmember extends through the flat panel.
 16. The target of claim 11,wherein the elastic member wraps around the tube.
 17. The target ofclaim 11, wherein the elastic member returns the target to its initialposition following impact from a projectile.
 18. A kit, comprising: aflat panel, an elastic member; and a protective unit, wherein the flatpanel is configured to rotatably attach to a tube, the elastic member isconfigured to wrap around the tube to create a pre-load, and theprotective unit is configured to increase tension in the elastic memberin response to movement of the flat panel relative to the tube.
 19. Thekit of claim 18, wherein the protective unit comprises a rigid strip.20. The kit of claim 18, wherein the protective unit comprises a metalstrip that attaches to the flat panel.